Lens bulb



Sept. 27, 1960 T. A. TUCKER LENS BULB Filed Dec. 10, 1958 INVENTORATTORNEY United States Patent LENS BULB Filed Dec. 10, 1958, Ser. No.779,350

Claims. I or. 240-106) This invention relates to a novel elementprimarily intended to form a part of an illuminated sign and includingadouble lens unit in the form of a hollow bulb or globe having a lens ateach end thereof.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide alens bulb of the aforedescribed character one of the lenses of whichgathers, magnifies and intensifies light rays passing therethroughtoward the other lens, by which the magnified and intensified light raysare dispersed in a wide angle to cause the light rays emitted from thelast mentioned lens to cover an arc of as much as 160.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double lens of theaforedescribed character a number of which can be used together to formletters, symbols, numerals or other sign indicia and wherein a lowwattage light source may be employed to furnish illumination for anumber of the double lens globes, the light rays from each of which willbe substantially more brilliant than the light rays from the source.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a double lens unitwhich is substantially nonbreakable and thus hail-proof, and which maybe utilized in connection with numerous types of illuminated signs toenable such signs to be operated with a minimum of current consumptionand with substantially, trouble-free operation, since the individuallens globes never require replacement.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawing, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, andwherein:

Figure 1 is atop plan view showing one of the lens globes in anappliedposition;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking toward the inner side of onesection of the double lens globe;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a slightly modifiedform of the lens globe, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating still anothermodification of the lens globe.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, and first with reference toFigures 1 to 3, the double lens globe in its entirety is designatedgenerally 7 and is composed of a forward section, designated generally8, and a rear section, designated generally 9. Each of the lens globesections 8 and 9 is preferably formed of a translucent or transparentmaterial which is substantially nonbreakable, such as plastic, the globesections preferably being formed of a material commercially known asLucite.

The forward globe section 8 includes a hollow cylindrical part 10constituting the rear end thereof, said cylindrical body portion 10having an open rear end, and the wall thereof being of reduced thicknessat the rear end thereof to provide a thin annular wall portion 11 of alesser external diameter than the remainder of the cylin- Patented Sept.27, 1960 drical wall 10. The cylindrical wall 10 forms an annularrearwardly facing shoulder 12 around the restricted wall portion 11. Theglobe section 8 has a forward end constituting an extension of theopposite forward end of the cylindrical wall 11 and forming a lens 13the exterior of which is smooth and substantially hemipherical, as seenat 14. The interior of the lens 13 is provided with a plurality ofstepped annular recessed portions of outwardly diminishing diametersforming prismatic zones 15, constituting the hollow interior of theforward lens or head 13 of the globe 7. Said lens or head 13 closes theforward end of the globe section 8 as well as the forward end of theassembled globe 7.

The rear globe section 9 constitutes a magnifying lens 16 having aconvexly rounded outer or rear side 17 and a substantially flat innerside 18. The rear globe section 9 also includes an annular forwardlyextending wall 19 of a length substantially less than the length of thewall 10 and of greater thickness. The wall 19 is provided with anannular forwardly opening groove 20 dividing said wall 19 into anannular external apron 21 and an annular internal apron 22, which is ofa length somewhat less than the length of the apron 21. The diameter andradial thickness of the annular groove 20 is such that it is adapted tosnugly receive the restricted cylindrical wall portion 11, and the outerdiameter of the apron 21 is approximately equal to the outer diameter ofthe remainder of the cylindrical wall 10.

A plurality of the lens globes 7 are adapted to be mounted in openingsof a panel or plate forming the front Wall or face of a sign, and whichopenings are arranged so that the lens globes 7 will form letters,numerals or other symbols. A portion of such a plate or panel is shownat 23 in Figures 1 and 2, including an opening 24 for receiving one ofthe globes 7. The opening 24 is of a diameter to slidably receivetherein the restricted wall portion 11 which is inserted rearwardlytherethrough. The lens section 9 is then attached to the forward lenssection 8 by applying the aprons 21 and 22 slidably over the outer andinner sides of the wall portion 11 and so that said wall portion isreceived in the groove 20. A portion of the panel 23, immediatelysurrounding the opening 24, fits snugly between the annular shoulder 12and the forward end of the outer apron 21. The lens sections 8 and 9 arethen permanently joined together in any conventional manner as by anadhesive or other bonding medium, for permanently securing the globe 7in the panel or plate 23.

It will be readily apparent that when a plurality of the globes 7 arethus assembled, in the aforedescribed manner, in the panel or plate 23to form sign indicia, a single light source, not shown, such as afiorescent type lamp bulb,.may be disposed behind or to the left of thepanel 23 for illuminating a plurality of the globes 7. Light rays fromsuch a light source will be magnified in passing through the rearmagnifying lens 16 and the light rays will be caused to converge by saidrear lens 16 so as to intersect in the hollow interior 25 of the globe 7and to thereafter diverge toward the front lens or head 13. Theprismatic zones 15 will increase the divergence of the light rays, asindicated by the numeral 26, emitted there from, so that the emittedlight rays will be emitted over a wide angle, of as much as to effect amaximum wide angle of viewing. In addition, the light rays will besubstantially magnified in passing through the rear lens 16 so that thelight rays emitted from the forward lens 13 will be of substantiallygreater brilliance than the rays received by the lens 16. The thicknessof the panel 23 is such that, in combination with the length of thecylindrical wall 10 and apron 21, the focal point of the magnifying lens16 will be correctly disposed relative to the front prismatic lens 13 toefiect a maximum dispersion of the emitted light rays 26.

In addition to the aforedescribed advantages of utilizing a plurality ofthe lens globes 7 in combination with a single low wattage light sourceover utilizing a plurality of individual light bulbs for accomplishingthe same amount of illumination, the lens globes 7 in addition providestructures whereby substantially all of the light rays are emitted onlythrough the prismatic or forward lenses 13, rather than around theentire globe of a conventional light bulb. Thus, the outer lenses orheads 13 will be illuminated to a substantially greater extent than thecylindrical walls 10 of the globes 7. This is of particular advantagewhere the globes 7 are closely clustered in forming one or more letters,numerals or symbols, so that the symbol or symbols produced by aplurality of the globes will be clearly delineated rather than obscureddue to the light rays being emitted from one light source towardanother, as frequently occurs in illuminated signs employingconventional light bulbs. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate slightmodifications of the globe 7 and whereby even less illumination of thecylindrical wall 10 will occur, so that the illuminated forward lenses13 standout from one another even more distinctively.

In the modification of the lens globe as shown in Figure 4, anddesignated generally 7a, the inner apron 22a is extended forwardly andis provided on its inner or forward end with a transverse wall 27 whichextends across the hollow interior or chamber 25a and which has acentral opening 28 located at the focal point of the rear lens 16a. Thepartition wall 27 is rendered opaque as by having applied to its outeror forward side an opaque coating 29%. Thus, all of the light rays 26passing from the magnifying lens 16a to the prismatic lens 13a passthrough the aperture 28. Consequently, there is substantially noillumination of the cylindrical wall 143a. Thus, the illuminated head orlens 13a stands out more distinctively and where a number of the lenstubes 7a are located in close proximity to one another the symbolproduced by the illuminated globes is very distinct.

Figure 5 illustrates another variation for accomplishing the same resultas that accomplished by the globe 7a, and wherein the globe 7b differsonly from the globe 7 in that it is provided with a disc 30 of an opaquematerial which is secured within and extends across the cylindrical wall10b. Said opaque wall or partition 30 has a central opening 31, locatedat the focal point of the lens 16b, which functions in the same mannerand for the same purpose as the aperture 28.

It ,will be readily understood that the globes may be made in varioussizes and that various other modifications and changes are contemplatedand may be resorted to,

without departing from the function or scope of the invention ashereinafter defined by the appended claims- I claim as my invention:

1. A lens globe for illuminated signs comprising a hollow elongated bodyformed of a translucent material including "a forward end having asubstantially hemispherical exterior surface, said forward end beinginternally recessed to provide prismatic-zones cooperating with saidhemispherical exteriorto form a prismatic lens, and said globe having arear end forming a magnifying lens, said lenses being disposed relativeto one another such that the focal point of the rear magnifying lens issubstantially midway between said lenses.

2. A lens globe as in claim 1, said globe being formed of end sectionsincluding a forward section having a cylindrical wall extendingrearwardly from said prismatic lens and a rear section including anannular wall extending forwardly from the magnifying lens and providedwith an annular forwardly opening groove, said cylindrical wall havingan externally restricted rear end adapted to extend through a panelopening and fitting said groove for connecting the globe sectionstogether and for assembling the globe in the panel.

3. A lens globe as in claim 2, said assembled globe sections forming ahollow internal chamber, and means forming an opaque partition extendingacross said chamber and having an aperture disposed at the focal pointof the magnifying lens through which light rays are 7 adapted to passfrom said magnifying lens to the forward prismatic lens.

4. A lens globe as in claim 3, said annular wall having an inner aprondisposed internally of the groove thereof and extending into thecylindrical wall of the forward globe section, said apron having atransverse Wall at its inner end provided with a central aperture and anopaque coatedsurface forming said partition means.

5. A lens globe as in claim- 1, said globe defining a hollow chamberdisposed between said lenses, an opaque partition member extendingacross the globe chamber and having a central aperture disposed at thefocal point of the magnifying lens through which the light rays areadapted to pass from the magnifying lens to said forward prismatic lens.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS AmenDec. 5., 1933

